花見 – Flower Viewing

One of the most beautiful natural display that one can experience in Japan and other Asian countries is definitely Hanami, which literally translates as flower viewing. People gather in parks, along canals or rivers and even in private spaces to admire the beauty of these flowers. Usually, people bring along food and alcohol to share with family, friends or even strangers. I’m sure many of you have heard of it but probably never experienced it, so here is a short idea of what it sounds like. I may post better pictures too on Sunday.

If you ever decide to come to visit Japan, this time of the year is probably the best. Be aware that the blossoming begins in Okinawa around February and slowly move its way toward east of Japan or upward, depending on how you look at it. In Tokyo it is usually around mid/end of March, this year the temperature wasn’t too bad but I experienced some cold ones in the past ; -).